Carburetor



Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE llt lllx Pradier, Clichy. France, asslgnors to Ben- Products Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application July 29 '1935, Serial No. 33.726

In France December 23. 1934 Claims.

T'he present invention relates to improvements in carburetors oi the well-known constant level YDIL Y One object is to permit by simple means proper 5 functioning at all inclinations of the carburetor, this being accomplished by the combination of certain elements with the novel elements cnnstituting the essence of the invention.

According to the invention, the fuel intake is located approximately in the center ci the float chamber, by means of a tube which opens into a recess provided in the float. and the flow of the fuel, anterior to the main jet and auxiliary jets. is controlled by a conical valve, having a. special profile, and which moves by its own weight in an appropriate bore, thereby opening and closing more or less the opening through which the i'uel must pass before passing to the jets.

When the carburetor is functioning in an lnverted position, the position of this valve is determined by a tappet connected to the throttle valve. and preferably connected with apart of the rod actuating the accelerating pump; such an arrangement has the important advantage, in the case of aviation carburetors, oi permitting this actuation in the interior of the carburetor and of making it unnecessary to connect the actuating part to the outside, or through a stumng box.

When the carburetor is functioning in a normal or approximately normal position, the conical valve in question remains at the bottom of its bore and has no effect on the metering oi the fuel, which thus passes to the jets in the normal manner.

Another object of the invention is to insure. by means of a sort of hydraulic joint, the sealing of the bearing for the tappet for the conical valve. so as to prevent the introduction of air from the `lczgt chamber to the fuel stream ilowing to the The invention contemplates, in addition, certain appplications, for example to carburetors designed for aircraft and also to other industrial uses and in general comprehends all apparatus comprised wholly or partly within the present arrangements.

The accompanying description and attached drawing, given by way of example, will make the arrangements comprehendedV by the invention readily understood.

Figure 1 is a section of the iloat chamber of a carburetor in the normal position of operation; and

Figure 2 shows the same section. with the carburetor inverted. i

'I'he carburetor to which the invention is applied may be of any suitable type, and as shown comprises a venturi 32 in which discharges e. main fuel nozzle 34. A throttle valve 36 controls the flow of fuel mixture through the induction passage, and is manually controlled by any suitable means, not shown. The throttle shaft 38 is connected, by levers lil and l I and link 42, to an actuating member IB which is located within the float chamber I and may connect with an acceleration pump (not shown) of any preferred construction. A pin Il carried by one arm of lever 4I rides on the member IB to depress it when the throttle is opened, and a spring 4B tends to move the member I6 to its uppermost position in Figure 1.

The reservoir I is provided with a cover 2, and contains a oat 3, which controls the fuel level therein and has a recess 5, which permits the orifice of the tube 6 to open at the exact center of the reservoir I without interfering with the vertical movement of the iloat; this tube 6 discharges into a chamber 1, in which slides a cylindrical guide member 8 of a conical valve 9 which is guided at its other end by a second cylindrical guide member I0 in a tubular sleeve I I, positioned on the axis of the chamber 1. The two cylindrical guide members 8 and Ill are drilled of suitable size; the sleeve Il has a predetermined interior diameter I2, as have also the holes il, suicient for the passage oi all the fuel necessary to carburetion. At its other end the sleeve is formed as a bearing for the tappet I5 which is connected to the actuating member IB. The tappet I5 is guided by a cap i'I which carries soldered to it, a tube I! bent in different directions in the plane oi the figures, which terminates, at one end, at the recess I9 which lies between the sleeve I I and the cap II, and. at its other end, at 2U, at the base of the reservoir and toward its center; a. nut 2| holds the sleeve II in liquid-tight contact with a seat 22. The holes il discharge into a chamber 23 which communicates by a passage 26 with the main and auxiliary jets. The fuel level is represented for diierent positions of the carburetor at I', 25, 26. 21, 28 and 29; these show that in all cases the orifice of pipe 6 is submerged and the flow oi fuel to the jets is assured.

The operation of the device is as follows:

In the position shown in Figure l, the conical valve il is maintained by its own weight at the bottom oi its chamber 1, and the fuel passes through a predetermined orice in the form of an annulus which is the difference between a circle of the diameter I2 and of the cylinder which connects the conical valve 9 to its cylindrical guide I I. 'I'he tappet Il may assume all the positions between the very lowest I and the very highest 3|, which may be imparted to it by its connect'ion with the throttle valve, without being inuenced by the position of said conical valve. which is independent of its movement. The carburetor then functions in the usual manner.

Figure 2 represents, by way of example, the carburetor in case of dying upside down; the reservoir I lls rapidly with fuel, which carries the float 3 to the position shown and, by means of known fuel control arrangements such as that shown in Miller Patent 1,841,663, keeps open the needle valve (not shown) which controls the entry of fuel thereby filling the reservoir above line 29 and immersing inlet 2U. This would admit an unlimited amount of fuel to the various jets if the valve 9 did not prevent it; but it is moved by gravity downwardly until it contacts the end of the tappet I5 in the position in which the latter was at the moment of inversion. The section left for the passage of fuel fox carburetlon is the difference between a circle of the diameter l2 and the section of the valve 9 in the given position. It will be seen that the sine of the annular orifice depends upon the position of the conical valve 9, a. position which is defined by the position of the tappet I5. The valve 8 may be given a suitable prole in order to provide for each condition an annular section which will permit a suitable ow of fuel for good carburetion independently of the section of the main and auxiliary jets being supplied.

In this position, good carburetlon may be obtained at all speeds of the engine from idling speed, if necessary. to the maximum power.

We shown shown at l, 25, 26, 11, 2l and I9, various characteristic levels which the fuel in the reservoir assumesl in various positions: it will be seen that the ermee of the tube 6 is characteristically placed in the recess l of the float. so that it is always submerged, which assures regularly in all cases the supply to the jets.

The different positions assumed by the reservoir determine certain levels; for example l and 2t, which uncover the, bearing of the tappet II in the cap i1. Necessarily, for convenient operation, the tappet l5 slides in the cap i1 with an initial clearance which increases with wear. Furthermore. the suction which acts on the iets is transmitted, ln reduced amount, to the sleeve Il: it would be obioctlonabie-if thiswouid entrain air and forman emulsion of fuel and change the metering characteristics of the carburetor. Due to the arrangement according to the present invention. this suction, when it exists. acts through thetube iltocausefueltorlseandilthe space il and eventually flow to the interior of the sleeve Il. where it is without effect on the normal operation and in quantity insufficient to disturb the operation in inverted flight.

It will be understood that apparatus following the invention may be embodied in other convenient forms, analogues, and variations, comprised wholly or partly in the present disclosure. or others which may be derived therefrom. without departing from the spirit of the invention as movable by gravity to an inoperative position where lt is not influenced by said means.

2. In a carburetor, a throttle, a fuel nomic, a fuel reservoir for said nozzle. a` conduit leadlng from the reservoir to said nozzle, a valve in said conduit to variably restrict the flow of fuel therethrough, and means operated in accordance with throttle position for actuating said valve to move the same to restrict more or less the ilow of fuel through the conduit, said valve being movable by gravity when the carburetor is upright to an inoperative position where it is not inuenced by said means.

3. In a carburetor, a throttle, a fuel nozzle, a fuel reservoir for said nomic, a conduit leading from the reservoir to said nozzle, a valve in said conduit to variably restrict the flow of fuel therethrough, means operated in accordance with throttle position for actuating said valve, said means comprising an actuating member for the valve, a bearing for the actuating member provided with a recess, and means operable in all positions of the carburetor for supplying fuel to said recess to ood said bearing.

4. In a carburetor, a throttle, a fuel nozzle, a fuel reservoir for said nozzle, a conduit leading from the reservoir to the nozzle, a valve movable by gravity in said conduit for variably restricting the iiow of fuel therethrough, means for actuating said valve comprising a movable memberl a bearing for said member, and means operable in all positions of the carburetor for supplying fuel from the rpservoir to said bearing to iiood the same.

5. In a carburetor, a throttle, a fuel let, a fuel reservoir for supplying fuel .to said iet, a conduit leading from the reservoir to the jet, valve means to control the flow through said conduit, and means operated by said throttle for controlling said valve means, said last named means being so constructed and arranged that it is effective only in the inserted position of the carburetor.

6. In a carburetor, a throttle, a fuel Jet, a fuel reservoir for supplying fuel to said jet, a conduit leading from the reservoir to the Jet, a valve slidably mounted in said conduit to control the iiow therethrough, said valve being movable by gravity when the carburetor is in upright position to a position in which it does not substantially restrict the conduit. and means operated by said throttle to control the valve when the carburetor is in inverted position.

7. In a carburetor, a throttle, a fuel jet, a fuel reservoir for supplying fuel to said Jet, a conduit leading from the reservoir to the Jet, means forming an orihce in said conduit, a tapered valve extending through said orifice. said valve being movable by gravity to control the iiow through said orifice, and means operated by the throttle for variably limiting movement of the valve in one direction.

8. In a carburetor, a throttle, a fuel Jet, a fuel reservoir for supplying fuel tc said jet, a conduit leading from the reservoir to the let, means forming an orifice in said conduit, a tapered valve extending through said orlce. said valve being movable by gravity to control the flow through said orifice, and a plunger operatively connected to the throttle to be moved thereby and engageable with one end of said valve for variably limiting movement thereof in one direction.

9. In a carburetor. a throttle, a fuel iet, a fuel reservoir for supplying fuel to said Jet, a conduit leading from the reservoir to the iet, a vertical chamber in series with said conduit, a valve the reservoir posislidably mounted in said chamber to control the rilhl Bide 19. l!! millet H0111 flow o! fuel therethrough, eplunger rod extending tioned approximately at the center ttldereoiuth into one end of the chamber and engageable with 119945 beln D1'0Vided with an 8101188 Ve c one end of the valve to limit movement thereof in lateral recess extending in the locus 0f the outlet 5 one direction, and means connecting said plunger t0 Permit Vertll movement 0f the ilot relative 5 to the throttle. to the outlet and means tor regulating fuel iiow to 10. In an invertible carburetor, a. fuel nozzle, the 1102216 when in inverted DOSIOB- a. fuel reservoir for supplying fuel to the nozzle, means including a. float in the reservoir normally THODORE JEAN-BAPTISTE LAFITTE.

l0 maintaining a. constant fuel level therein when ENOGAT PRADIER. 10

. CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,150,881 september 2o, 1958.

THoDoRE JEAN-BAPTISTE LAFITTE, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l, first column, line b2, for "appp1ications read applications; page 2,-first co1- umn, 1i'ne57, for "shown shown" reed have shown; and second column, line 142, claim 5, for the word ":lnsertedl read inverted; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of' the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 51st day of (lctober, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

the reservoir posislidably mounted in said chamber to control the rilhl Bide 19. l!! millet H0111 flow o! fuel therethrough, eplunger rod extending tioned approximately at the center ttldereoiuth into one end of the chamber and engageable with 119945 beln D1'0Vided with an 8101188 Ve c one end of the valve to limit movement thereof in lateral recess extending in the locus 0f the outlet 5 one direction, and means connecting said plunger t0 Permit Vertll movement 0f the ilot relative 5 to the throttle. to the outlet and means tor regulating fuel iiow to 10. In an invertible carburetor, a. fuel nozzle, the 1102216 when in inverted DOSIOB- a. fuel reservoir for supplying fuel to the nozzle, means including a. float in the reservoir normally THODORE JEAN-BAPTISTE LAFITTE.

l0 maintaining a. constant fuel level therein when ENOGAT PRADIER. 10

. CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,150,881 september 2o, 1958.

THoDoRE JEAN-BAPTISTE LAFITTE, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l, first column, line b2, for "appp1ications read applications; page 2,-first co1- umn, 1i'ne57, for "shown shown" reed have shown; and second column, line 142, claim 5, for the word ":lnsertedl read inverted; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of' the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 51st day of (lctober, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

